Tiers on my pillow

[Cismyfatarse]

As requested.

Happy to help with home es queries about English up to AH level.

@Bikingbear

I can't see camps being allowed because of number and toilets etc. However I really hope kids aren't prevented from playing in parks or with friends.

The problem is that these kind of sports camps are virtually unregulated - sure they could get a covid fine but that's about it. We have to stick by the rules or risk the Care Inspector up our asses.

There are some which run full time in holidays but call themselves sports clubs so aren't registered. Means they don't have the same ratios etc as official out if school care. Which is great fun when parents complain your regulated club costs more...

Sorry, bugbear of mine.

@Bikingbear yes. The delay in organising the vaccination infrastructure is unforgivable.

It should be going 24/7 now across the country.

And they are doing the same as England with the one dose and delay, despite health being devolved.

It’s a disgrace.

I'm pretty sure nowhere has SG approval to open for non keyworkers (apart from vulnerable kids) - they're barely even communicating with providers let alone doing bespoke service authorisations

@StatisticallyChallenged

I'm pretty sure nowhere has SG approval to open for non keyworkers (apart from vulnerable kids) - they're barely even communicating with providers let alone doing bespoke service authorisations

That's what at least one nursery I know has told parents...not going to jeopardise my friend's childcare by querying but it does seem odd when I know other people who can't get a space elsewhere because only one of them is a keyworker or can WFH. Who knows anymore!

@Bikingbear

I don’t think it’s bonkers that kids could be doing a couple of hours of sport each day outside. What’s the alternative for young primary children whose parents are working from home? Getting stuck in front of a laptop or iPad to try and cope with homeschooling themselves while their parents are on calls all day? At least they would have more supervision and engagement doing some sports.

Homeschooling does not work for this age group.

Arewethereyet21 - you could spin that on its head and say schools should offer an hours outdoor PE to every child. Not just the rich parents who've got a private club on their radar.

I know Homeschooling primary kids is shite, and if I had a private club available to me I'd probably use it. But that doesn't make it right. I'll be stunned if they allow them to operate.

Trying not to freak out but that's another 2 from my office tested positive - I'm now the only one that's not had it in the last few weeks. I'm terrified of catching it as dh is immunosuppressed and I dread him catching it. I know I'm probably being irrational but I lost a good friend aged 41 in April to it so the fear is always there.

Our nursery told us that they would be hammered by the care inspectorate if they had non key worker children in, so not to try to get a place if you weren't eligible. Fewer children, less money so I can see why other nurseries would be tempted.

Re the demands for vaccination figures, travelling tabby has been publishing them so it seems that they are being published by scot gov.

@latortugafeliz not suggesting you query but I run a regulated service - which is why I'm fairly sure it's billy bollocks. Either the service is lying (out of desperation most likely, can't say I blame them tbh) or there's a missing bit e.g. classified as vulnerable but doesn't want people to know, or has fibbed about keyworker status. No judgement on pretty much any of these tbh, folk are desperate

Checking in (think I missed most of the last thread). I hope everyone had as good a Christmas as possible. DS was due to start nursery this week but that’s postponed. To be honest I can live with that as his separation anxiety has worsened this year due to barely seeing anyone else and I was dreading it. But a ballpark timeframe of when he might start would be reassuring.

I am missing my swimming like mad

Try not to freak out too much @ladylunchalot, have you had any symptoms?

Sorry to hear about your friend

@titsbumfannythelot

Try not to freak out too much *@ladylunchalot*, have you had any symptoms?

Sorry to hear about your friend

Many thanks. Nope apart from a bit of a sore throat and a bit breathless but I've had that for months which I've put down to wearing masks as it makes my throat dry. Lol and to think they were giving me grief about having the windows open last week. It was baltic but after the first outbreak last month that's what we were told to do.

Hi been following on and off for a while
but haven’t yet posted. Enjoyed reading the Scottish perspectives and thoughts on SG etc.

I was quite upset/annoyed when the school closure was announced as felt it was excessively cautious given the numbers here though understood lots of unknowns re Christmas mixing and this new strain. I’m now relieved it was announced back then as we aren’t having last minute surprises on closures and are prepared for at least a week of school closures. I am trying to steel myself for this lasting through to February break or worst case Easter break. I very much hope it doesn’t. I’m fortunate not to be working just now (phrase never thought I’d use!) so have no work/home school/childcare pressures in that sense however I’m still hate the idea of home schooling. My p3 daughter really struggles to engage with things like writing tasks and she’s really bounced back since returning to school not just educationally (writing has improved she’s keen to learn etc etc) but socially too. She’s keen to return. My youngest due to due to birthday has really only been at nursery for a month or so when first lockdown happened. She returned in August and has been enjoying it so much. She even asked me on Christmas Day night if she has nursery tomorrow and was sad when I said no she was on holiday! She’s in her preschool year now and I felt she’s completely unprepared for p1 in August. I realise it’s a long way away but this is the term when nursery start transition work and she needs a lot of focused help to be ready for P1. She is also still waiting if a SLT referral. This has all been delayed.

I know I and my children as in a “good” position really but even I feel quite down about it all so can only imagine how those parents with additional pressures feel. I also have lost a lot of energy and am just not sure where to look for Home schooling now particularly for my youngest at age 4. The school was quite good with work for my eldest last time but it’s no where near what they’d get in school and I found it hard going.

Does anyone know if twinkle will be free this time? Is it worth getting? I’ll have to see what apps are worthwhile also although our equipment is quite old so a lot work work for us. Any tips or suggestions on how to motivate a 7 year old and also ensure a Just turned 4 year old is engaged? Last lockdown I felt youngest was left to own devices too much to play alone whilst I was sat on google classrooms with eldest. I genuinely do not know how parents were suppose to do that and work at home too.

With regards to more I’m just hoping then don’t change the outside rules - being able to go to a park and have them play freely is so important as they see no one otherwise. They refuse (too young I think) to participate with anything online so have no contact with anyone.

I’m another who really expected to see some big mobilisation as soon as the vaccines were approved. I know supplies are what they are but I though there would be town halls and things open with constant appointments and visits to those who can’t leave home. It doesn’t even seem like the care home residents and staff are complete yet. I’m shocked they are only recruiting. It’s not like they didn’t know the need to vaccinate an entire population was coming.

I wouldn't worry too much about the LOs starting school this year they'll all be in the same boat and schools will just have to go easy on them.

I can't see me getting furlough this time. My job still needs doing, so I'm preparing what I can getting ready for the last long haul. ie sorting our old laptop. It's running much faster than before and has quick links added to Google Classroom.

I don't know I can do much else.

Hi, @AgentCooper, and welcome @SparklingDinosaurs

@SparklingDinosaurs, yes, you are right that it was better to know it in advance. The problem is that I also knew from the start that that would turn out to be only the beginning of another indefinite school closure. From the beginning it has always been "be patient, it is just an extra week", but here we are, back to square one now, having never been out of lockdown since March.
I am not worried for my kids; whether they engage with online learning or not it won't make the slightest difference to them, I am just concerned that it is going to drive us all demented, especially as NS, I am told, has been saying that we should curtail ALL contacts.

Be patient, it is just for one extra week!

Having a bit of a giggle over posts on the local FB page. Lots of pictures of admittedly shocking parking on roads around the waterworks nearby which is popular for a walk. Small car park, overflow on road, utter carnage with people not being able to get past. It's like MN coronavirus bingo with all the comments you'd expect about "covidiots", "selfishness", "what part of a pandemic don't they understand" and a particularly good post about police "finning" drivers.

What they are not saying is that this is the logical conclusion of the ridiculous policy which says that no you can't go into Glasgow and walk in one of the many parks, no you can't go into West Dunbartonshire and walk along the Clyde, no you can't go up to Loch Lomond, no you can't drive into Stirlingshire and walk in the hills. You MUST stay in East Dunbartonshire.

I'm less law abiding and blatantly flouted the rules for a bit of a walk round the West End of Glasgow.

Is anyone else wondering if shoe horning folk into a 2 week Christmas shopping window is responsible for the elevated numbers at the minute? Surely it's too early to blame Christmas mixing.

It's the same in east ren Raspberry, whitelee wind farm and all surrounding roads are dangerously busy just now.

Yep, @RaspberryCoulis it’s nonsensical. The law of unintended consequences...

Does anyone know if twinkle will be free this time? Is it worth getting?

Twinkl have different levels of membership, the basic one is always free. There are good playdough mats, colouring sheets and little puzzles you could use, even with the 4 year old. The search engine is hopeless though!*

Any tips or suggestions on how to motivate a 7 year old and also ensure a Just turned 4 year old is engaged?

I wouldn’t try to replicate a day at school, just keep it short and sweet. 10/15 minutes of sounds and reading, and another 10/15 of numeracy is plenty academics wise (imo).

Thanks for the info/advice on taking car for a service. Shall call the garage tomorrow.

I’m now at the point of she can do whatever she likes tomorrow as long as we can still meet one other person outdoors.
If she takes that away then I just can’t do this again.

Also questioning yet again why I follow the rules. As I’m no better off from doing so

Gawd what more restrictions can we get.

Haven’t been in anyone’s house since September

We can’t go out for a coffee even unless we want to stand in the snow

I don’t understand why the vaccine rollout is not going at a fast speed

And why SG are not saying we plan to vaccinate so many this week and so many next week and this is where.

Instead all we get is more restrictive talk which makes me feel like what is the point

So grim

I don't think she'll take away the other person outdoors - its impossible to police. But then again many other rules are also impossible to police.

I'm hoping all red tape has been cleared to allow live lessons online with kids. But that's maybe a pipe dream. Could that be what the in service days are for?

There’s only so much stuff my wee ones can do in this weather

So fed up

@littlbrowndog I could put up with more of vaccination was proceeding apace; all day, every day.

They need to tell us why this isn’t happening